Jardin botanique de Bayonne, Botanical garden at ramparts in Bayonne, France.

The Jardin botanique de Bayonne occupies a 7-metre-high bastion of Vauban's fortifications, between the cathedral and the ramparts. Its 3,000 m² are laid out in nine sectors on terraces, with a pond, a footbridge and a waterfall. Paths of recycled paving stones and railway sleepers pass about 1,000 labelled taxa, including Japanese maples and a katsura whose leaves smell of caramel.

The garden was built between 1987 and 1990 on a 7-metre bastion of Vauban's fortifications, above the war memorial. The first plan was drawn up in 1985, and the garden opened in June 1990. Municipal workers built it largely with salvaged materials: paving stones, stone blocks and railway sleepers. It replaced a bramble-covered cattle shelter that had housed cows grazing in the moat.

Plants are organized by color and scent rather than scientific families, creating distinct zones that visitors experience through their senses. This approach makes the garden feel more personal and intuitive than a traditional botanical arrangement.

The garden sits on a 7-metre-high Vauban bastion reached by stone steps and sloping gravel paths, with a metal handrail on the stepped stairway. Entry is free and adapted for disabled visitors, but dogs are not allowed. A free city-centre shuttle serves stop number 7; a full visit takes one to two hours.

The pathways feature recycled materials integrated into their construction, reflecting a sustainable approach to the space. The site also houses a notable collection of Japanese maples that anchor the eleven themed plant groupings throughout the garden.